DISABILITY SERVICES

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Disabilities a question relating to government payments.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Disability services providers, both directly and indirectly funded by the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, have complained to the opposition that the government is failing to provide their funding within an adequate time frame. On a number of occasions this delay has caused difficulty for the service providers to meet their financial needs, including being unable to pay their staff. My questions for the minister are:

1. What is department policy with regard to a target time frame for paying for services rendered?

2. What percentage of payments to service providers over the last year were paid within that target time frame?

3. What is the total amount of payments now considered overdue by the department in terms of its own policy, and is the minister aware of service providers who need to stop providing services because of the cash flow impact of the department's slow payments?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:50): I thank the honourable member for his important question and for his ongoing interest in this area and topic of disability. They are detailed questions and I undertake to take them on notice and bring back an answer for him.